Getting concrete about abstract art
- Source: Global Times
- [13:50 June 29 2010]
- Comments
A showroom of Bund 1919.
Into the crystal ball
The overall planning for Bund 1919 is as ambitious as its counterparts in the city.
The venue includes a 6,000-square-meter art bank, a 15,000-square-meter design center, an 8,000-square-meter experience center and an 8,000-square-meter entertainment space.
But so far only the art bank has been occupied, and there is a lot of space waiting for tenants, putting it in much the same position as many studios and galleries in the city. The new space will face the same old problems.
High rents and over planning are threatening the development and survival of many of the creative art zones in Shanghai.
Hong Pingtao, the former owner of the Wujiaochang 800, said that in order to attract more galleries he had even tried to offer the space for free which had some effect, drawing big galleries like the ShanghART Gallery.
But the financial crisis soon killed Hong's dream of building the best art zone in Shanghai.
The famous galleries moved out, and Hong had to go back to the drawing board and started a gallery called Shanghai Canvas Art Center on Songyuan Road.
He Zengqiang, the secretary general of the Shanghai Creative Industry Center, said: "Lowering rents is the most direct and effective way to reduce the vacancy rate but we still need help from the government and the tenants themselves."
Apart from a few "deserters," the majority of galleries and artists choose to stay.
Jin Weidong, the owner of M50, said that only three galleries withdrew their business in 2009.
"I will stick for a while because I am afraid that I will not be able to come back again if I choose to leave," a gallery owner surnamed Li at M50 said.
Others like 1933 Laochangfang switched operations quietly. The slaughterhouse-turned creative zone is more like a fashion resort with luxury boutiques and restaurants rather than the self-proclaimed "cultural and art center."
"But we do respect art and will never give up the dream of turning it into an art haven," said Wang Xiaolei, the owner of 1933 Laochangfang.
